Limiting Bisphenol A Exposure

23 Oct

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic industrial chemical used in producing plastics and resins to make them strong, durable, heat-resistant, transparent, and lightweight. As such, BPA is found in many everyday products including reusable plastic tableware, water bottles, sports equipment, physical discs (like DVDs), soda cans, water pipes, flooring, adhesives, and thermal paper receipts. While we rarely think twice about interacting with these items, health experts caution that BPA exposure may carry risks.

On a molecular level, BPA closely resembles the hormone estrogen. Inside the body, it can bind to estrogen receptors and interfere with normal hormonal signaling, potentially disrupting developmental and reproductive processes. Research links BPA exposure to reduced fertility, elevated risks of breast and prostate cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, early puberty, immune system changes, and certain neurological effects.

How does BPA enter the body? Pathways include ingestion from food and drinks stored in containers lined with BPA or heated in plastic, inhalation of microplastic particles containing BPA, and skin absorption from handling thermal paper receipts.

Due to growing awareness and regulatory pressure, many manufacturers now market “BPA-free” products. However, these are often made with Bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical less studied but showing similar hormonal activity and potential health risks. Instead, it may be prudent to choose non-plastic alternatives—such as glass or stainless steel containers—which are more reliably free of hormone-disrupting bisphenols.

To reduce exposure, experts recommend limiting canned food and drink consumption, using glass or stainless steel containers, avoiding microwaving plastic, opting for electronic receipts or declining paper ones, not applying hand sanitizer immediately after handling receipts, wearing nitrile gloves if receipts are handled regularly for work, washing hands often (especially before eating), and cleaning floors and dusting regularly to minimize bisphenol residues in indoor dust.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

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Whiplash and Temporomandibular Disorders

16 Oct

The sudden acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck during a rear-end collision can stretch the soft tissues surrounding the cervical spine beyond their normal range of motion. This can result in strains, sprains, and tears that trigger the cluster of symptoms collectively known as whiplash-associated disorders. While neck pain is widely recognized, one consequence that often occurs but is less commonly considered is temporomandibular disorders (TMD), or jaw pain and associated disability.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is formed by the socket in the temporal bone of the skull and the condyle of the mandible (jawbone). It is a synovial, condylar, hinge-type joint, with an articular disk that divides the joint into superior and inferior cavities, each lined with its own synovial membrane. A capsule surrounds the joint and attaches to the articular eminence, the articular disk, and the neck of the mandibular condyle. This unique structure allows the jaw to open and close, move side to side, and shift forward and backward, enabling essential functions such as breathing, eating, and speaking.

The rapid forces generated in a whiplash event can directly injure the TMJ as the jaw lags slightly behind the skull, subjecting the joint to excessive forces. Because several muscles and connective tissues link the head, neck, and jaw, injury to these structures can also impair jaw function, leading to both pain and disability. Just as cervicogenic headaches occur when dysfunction in the neck refers pain into the head, similar mechanisms can refer pain to the jaw, creating TMD-like symptoms.

In May 2025, researchers reviewed records from five hospitals covering 2019 to 2023 and found that post-traffic collision jaw muscle tenderness upon palpation ranged from 25% in children and adolescents to 32.56% in older adults. Overall, approximately one in seven patients reported difficulty opening their mouth.

Fortunately, studies have shown that manual therapies combined with therapeutic exercises for both the jaw and neck can effectively manage TMD, whether associated with whiplash or not. A March 2023 case report illustrated this approach in a 39-year-old woman with a six-month history of unexplained jaw pain, disability, co-occurring neck pain, and headaches. She consulted a chiropractor after limited success with conventional treatment. Examination revealed reduced cervical range of motion and tightness in multiple neck muscles. Following a multimodal treatment approach aimed at restoring normal motion to both the cervical spine and TMJ, the patient reported complete resolution of symptoms.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

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Multimodal Treatment for Chronic Neck Pain

13 Oct

Chronic neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, with up to half of adults experiencing it in a given year, and it accounts for as much as 4% of all visits to healthcare providers. The most common classification is non-specific neck pain, meaning the condition arises from musculoskeletal strain or dysfunction in the neck region without a clearly identifiable medical pathology such as fracture, infection, tumor, or inflammatory disease. Because the exact pain generator is often difficult to determine, treatment focuses instead on restoring normal motion to the cervical spine using a multimodal approach.

The mainstay of chiropractic treatment for neck pain and other musculoskeletal disorders is manual therapy, delivered either hands-on or with the assistance of instruments. The most common technique is spinal manipulation, also called spinal manipulative therapy, which involves high-velocity, low-amplitude movements applied at the end of a joint’s range of motion to restore mobility, reduce pain through neuromechanical effects, and normalize function of the spine and surrounding tissues. Other forms of manual therapies may also be used, such as mobilization (slower, gentler movements within the range of motion), myofascial therapy (sustained pressure or stretching to release restrictions in connective tissue), and trigger point therapy (direct, focused pressure to relieve taut muscle bands). All share the goal of restoring normal movement and reducing pain.

Exercise is another key component of managing neck pain, both to relieve current symptoms and to reduce the risk of recurrence. Neck pain often relates to poor posture that places excess strain on some muscles while deconditioning others. For instance, forward head posture shifts the head in front of the shoulders, forcing posterior neck muscles to overwork while anterior neck muscles weaken. To address these imbalances and other deficits, patients may be prescribed range-of-motion drills, stretching, strengthening, postural retraining, and proprioceptive exercises.

Additional treatment strategies may be incorporated depending on the patient’s needs and preferences, the provider’s clinical training, and examination findings. These may include ergonomic advice, physiotherapy modalities, ice/heat, dietary modifications, and nutritional supplementation. Multimodal approaches are well supported in the literature, consistently providing better outcomes than any single therapy alone. When needed, chiropractors may co-manage care with other healthcare providers, always with the goal of reducing pain, improving function, and helping patients return to normal activities as quickly as possible.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

The Most Common Cause of Hip Pain in Active Adults

9 Oct

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a painful hip condition that occurs when there is abnormal contact between the femoral head/neck junction and the rim of the acetabulum (hip socket) during certain movements, especially hip flexion, internal rotation, and adduction (inward motion). While hip problems are often associated with older adults, the vast majority of FAI cases occur in active young and middle-aged individuals.

Essentially, the condition results from bone shapes that disrupt the normal smooth motion of the hip joint. The most common type is called cam morphology, in which the femoral head/neck junction is not perfectly round, creating a bony prominence that interferes with joint motion. Cam morphology accounts for roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of symptomatic FAI cases and is most common in active young men. Another type, pincer morphology, occurs when there is excess coverage of the socket’s rim and is seen more often in active middle-aged women. These morphologies usually develop during puberty, and while they are often symptom-free, they can lead to impingement when the hip is subjected to repetitive, high-force movements such as running, jumping, or kicking—which is why active individuals are more prone to the condition.

Surgical intervention may be considered as an early option, particularly in young athletes with severe, function-limiting symptoms and clear imaging evidence of impingement. However, randomized controlled trials show that while surgery can offer faster symptom relief in the short- to mid-term, the long-term differences compared to structured non-surgical care are small, and surgery carries greater cost and risk. For this reason, clinical guidelines recommend conservative care as the first-line approach, with surgery reserved for cases that do not improve.

Conservative chiropractic management of FAI may include activity modification, anti-inflammatory measures (such as ice, dietary adjustments, or supplements), and rehabilitative strategies like stretching tight hip flexors, strengthening the core and hip extensors, and improving postural control. Chiropractors may also employ modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, laser therapy, or pulsed magnetic field therapy, along with manual techniques to restore motion in the hip. A comprehensive evaluation also considers the kinetic chain—since altered mechanics in the feet, ankles, knees, or lower back can increase stress on the hip and worsen FAI.

As with most musculoskeletal conditions, early intervention improves outcomes. Addressing FAI promptly not only reduces the risk of joint degeneration but also prevents compensatory movement patterns that can strain other areas of the body and contribute to additional painful conditions.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

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The Course of the Median Nerve and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

6 Oct

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition characterized by numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the radial half of the ring finger, as well as the portion of the hand between these digits and the wrist. The condition results from compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist; however, if care is only directed toward alleviating pressure on the nerve within the carpal tunnel, lasting relief may not occur. This is because of the course of the median nerve itself.

Five nerves exit the cervical spine and join to form the brachial plexus at the base of the neck. Segments of the lateral and medial cords then combine to form the median nerve. From there, the nerve travels through the shoulder, down the upper arm, past the elbow, along the forearm, and finally through the carpal tunnel to terminate in the hand. The median nerve functions much like a two-lane road, carrying commands for movement and other body functions to muscles and tissues while relaying sensory information back to the brain. When this process is impeded by narrowing in the carpal tunnel, sensory nerves may misfire and motor nerves may be slow to activate—leading to the symptoms of CTS.

Compression, however, can occur at any point along the nerve’s path and may create the same symptoms as CTS. In some cases, compression exists in multiple locations simultaneously. For this reason, chiropractors examine the entire length of the median nerve to identify all potential points of entrapment. By applying pressure with the thumb over the most common compression sites and noting how quickly symptoms are reproduced, chiropractors can identify inflamed areas requiring treatment.

Once the points of compression are identified, chiropractors typically employ a combination of methods such as manual and soft tissue therapies, exercise training, splinting (particularly at night to maintain a neutral wrist position), and anti-inflammatory physiologic or nutritional approaches. They will also inquire about work and recreational activities, since highly repetitive hand movements—especially those involving forceful gripping or pinching—can worsen symptoms and may impede recovery.

Perhaps even more important than how chiropractors treat CTS is when they treat it. Because the condition typically develops from repetitive microtrauma, symptoms often begin subtly and intermittently then gradually increase in frequency and severity. Many individuals ignore or self-manage until the condition interferes too much with their daily life and work tasks. Unfortunately, delaying care can allow permanent nerve damage to occur, making complete resolution unlikely. The key takeaway is to seek chiropractic care for carpal tunnel symptoms sooner rather than later.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

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Understanding Lumbar Disk Injuries

2 Oct

Low back pain can arise from a variety of structures in the lower back. When symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness, and/or burning that radiates into the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot, a potential cause may be injury to one or more intervertebral disks. These disks function to stabilize the lumbar spine, absorb forces, and facilitate its range of motion.

The lower back is comprised of five lumbar vertebrae separated by intervertebral disks positioned in the anterior portion of the spinal column. The nucleus pulposus is a gel-like structure in the center of the disk that provides much of the strength and flexibility of the spine. In young, healthy disks, the nucleus pulposus is composed of 66–86% water, with the remainder consisting mostly of type II collagen and proteoglycans. The annulus fibrosis, surrounding this core, is made up of concentric layers (lamellae) of fibrous connective tissue, each oriented at about 60 degrees to the adjacent layer. This crisscross radial-ply design provides significant strength and helps prevent leakage of the nucleus pulposus, much like the reinforcement of a radial car tire. Finally, each disk is anchored to the vertebrae above and below by cartilaginous endplates.

Common disk injuries include disk bulge (the annulus remains intact but the disk extends beyond its normal boundaries), disk herniation (the nucleus pulposus pushes through the annulus), disk tear (the annulus itself tears), disk endplate injury (the nucleus pulposus intrudes into the vertebral endplate), disk degeneration (progressive breakdown leading to loss of disk height). Less common conditions include infection or neoplastic (tumor) invasion of the disk space. Importantly, disk injuries are not always symptomatic, which is why guidelines often recommend against advanced imaging for uncomplicated low back pain, as an observed disk herniation may not necessarily explain the patient’s symptoms.

Several studies have shown that it is nearly impossible to herniate a truly healthy disk. Rather, when an apparent injury follows a perceived trauma such as lifting with poor posture, it usually represents the culmination of a longer degenerative process in which the disk ultimately places pressure on a nerve root. Long-term risk factors for disk degeneration include obesity, family history of disk disease, and physically demanding occupations or leisure activities.

The good news is that many disk injuries can be managed non-surgically in a chiropractic setting using a multimodal approach. This may include spinal manipulation and other manual therapies, therapeutic exercise, physiotherapy modalities, and adjunctive anti-inflammatory strategies such as cryotherapy, dietary modification, and supplementation. In the short term, treatment focuses on restoring normal motion around the disk and reducing nerve root irritation. Over the longer term, the goal is to stabilize the spine and correct biomechanical issues that may place excess stress on the disk. If symptoms do not respond adequately, referral to a specialist for more invasive interventions, including surgical options, may be warranted.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

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